Eduardo Barbosa Is Gold-Awarded and Brazil Has Reached the Podium in All Categories of the South American Games So Far

Ketleyn Quadros (57kg) was silver-awarded and Mariana Silva (63kg) and Vinicius Sakamoto (66kg) conquered the bronze. On the first day, two golds and one bronze had been already awarded.

Judo brought Brazil four more medals this Wednesday, the second day of this sport’s disputes of the South American Games Santiago 2014. Eduardo Katsuhiro Barbosa (73kg) was a champion, Ketleyn Quadros (57kg) won the silver; Mariana Silva (63kg) and Vinicius Sakamoto (66kg) conquered the bronze. More than that, Jessica Pereira (52kg) and Breno Alves (60kg) won the gold whereas Gabriela Chibana (48kg) got the bronze, and so the judo brought Brazil seven medals in seven contested categories. So far, there have been three gold, one silver and three bronze awards.

The gold in the men\'s lightweight category came from an exciting fight between Eduardo Barbosa and Alejandro Clara from Argentina. Both of them had already three punishments and there were two minutes left to the end of the fight.  One more shido and the opponent would win. At this moment, the Brazilian managed to throw the Argentinian by wazari and managed the outcome. The members from the coaching staff and athletes who were in the stands could not stop screaming.

\"I\'m still adapting myself to this new rule that has a lot of penalties. I noticed that I have to train a lot and improve my performance. In the middle of the fight I had already three shidos. One more and I would lose the fight. But I think the main reason which made me win is that I kept myself cool and I sought the ippon. In the tensest moment of the fight, I could hear the crowd screaming in the stands and this helped me a lot. All I can do is thank everyone.” said Eduardo, Danielli Yuri’s brother; she was silver-awarded at the Pan-American Games Rio 2007. He had defeated before the Bolivian Kevin Parra and the Ecuadorian Fernando Ibañez by ippon.

Ketleyn Quadros was surprised by the Colombian Yadinis Amaris Rocha in the decision and she took the silver. By the way, the Colombian was also the defeater of another favorite judoka from this category, the Venezuelan Anriquelis Barrios.

\"It\'s a tough competition, the fight was hard. I\'ve won and I\'ve lost  may times in fights against her. This time was an ippon; there is nothing I can do now. But I\'m happy because from the beginning the fight has been a strong one. Athletes are studying each other’s movements more and they prepare more for this kind of competition. I wanted the gold, I did not have it, but still I\'m happy, \"said Ketleyn, currently sixth placed in the rankings. She had previously defeated the Bolivian Karen Herrera with an arm-key and the Argentinian Melissa Rodriguez by ippon.

The two bronzes came differently. Mariana Silva (63kg) was defeated right from her first fight by the Ecuadorian Estefania Mendoza - who would take the gold in the category - and had to compete in another fight in the morning to continue in the contention for bronze. In the repechage, she defeated by yuko and then immobilized Guadalupe Barrios ( PAR ). In the decisive fight, she was not intimidated by the crowd and applied an ippon to the promise of the Chilean judo0, Barbara Jara.

“I think I had a good performance but it was below my expectations. Judo is unpredictable and believes it will serve me to see my mistakes. When you lose, the fight is not for gold but I could overcome myself and I reached the podium “Mariana Silva said.

Vinicius Sakamoto was defeated in the semifinals by the experienced Sergio Mattey from Venezuela and had to wait until the afternoon to fight for the podium. But the break did not affect the Brazilian who strangled the 18-year Colombian Juan Perez  in order to reach the podium.

 \" I was surprised to lose in the semifinals because I really really wanted the gold . But I had to continue thinking on the medal left. I do not leave with the feeling of accomplishment, but rather with a huge desire to go further in the next competition, \"said Vinicius Sakamoto. In the first fight of the day, he had applied two wazaris to the Argentinian Laureano Martin.

On Thursday, four categories will be disputed. Brazil will be represented by Gustavo Assis (81kg) and Renata Januário (78kg) who are competing for the first time in the National Judo Team and Eduardo Santos (90kg) and Barbara Timo (70kg).